White Oak
The Facts

1. Leaves: Elliptical, 4 �E8 inches long with 5 �E9 lobes with deep sinuses extending a third or more to the midrib with no prickle on the end. (See illustration below).

White Oaks - lobes with no bristles

Red Oaks - lobes with bristles

2. Acorns: 1-3 in a group in light gray, shallow cup covering ¼ of the nut which is oblong and up to 1 inch in length.

3. Bark: Older, becoming gray and roughened by irregular furrows and thick scaly ridges. This illustration is typical of upper stem bark of the White oak species.

White Oak

White Oak
The Champion

• All oaks in North America are divided into two groups, the white oaks and the red (black) oaks.
• In general the white oaks have smooth lobed leaves with 5 to 9 lobes.
• The acorns of the white oak group are not bitter and represent an important source of food for wildlife.
• Species in the red oak group tend to have pointed bristle-tipped lobes. Their acorns are bitter and less suitable food for wildlife.
• The white oak species (Quercus alba L.) our featured species of the moment, is the most important species of the white oak group. It is a magnificent tree growing up to over 100�Ein height
• The Georgia State champion measures 80 inches in diameter, is 130 feet tall with an 83-foot crown spread.
• The tree shown here is the Clarke County Champion, with a diameter of 67 inches, a height of 90 feet, with a spread of 104 feet.
• Another famous white oak is the “Tree that Owns Itself�Ethat has become an Athens-Clarke County legend.
• Since 1999, it has been and is the tree that provides the saplings planted at area elementary schools as part of the CTC annual Arbor Day celebration.
• White oaks grow to be big trees if planted in deep well-drained soils, and need a large area to grow.
• The white oak is adaptable to a wide range of geographic conditions, but mostly north and west of the lower coastal plains of the southern United States. The species is well suited to the Athens-Clarke County and other piedmont sites.
• Like most trees, they are susceptible to human activity such as road building, heavy equipment travel, and parking.
• The white oak species has high commercial value in the forest products it provides including:
      - Flooring
      - Furniture
      - Boat building
      - Interior finishing
      - Wine and whiskey casks
  

White Oak
The Legend